Life is good with Stoneham’s public schools
Published on September 17th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Things were positively positive at the School Committee last week as the board convened for its first meeting since the opening of schools on September 4.
“It's good to see life coming back to the schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Les Olson.
Stoneham High School Principal Ed Russo and Middle School Principal Chris Banos were on hand on Thursday night presenting summaries of their respective school improvement plans.
Stoneham High School
Stoneham High School Principal Ed Russo has been busy since he seamlessly took on the official principalship of Stoneham High School after stepping up as interim principal when long time principal Dr. Tom Ryan retired.
Russo outlined his priorities in the SHS improvement plan beginning with school safety.
“That's my number one priority - the safety of the kids who come here.”
The high school practiced a lockdown drill last year, and invited the Stoneham Police canine unit in to perform drug searches. Russo assured the committee that no student came in contact with the canines or handlers during the exercise.
Aside from these measures, Russo said student safety is a day-to-day priority with measures in place including visitor sign-in, periodic door checks, and hall monitors. In addition, SHS enforces a “no hat, no hoods” policy, that prohibits students from wearing such in the school building.
“It's intimidating…you can't tell who a person is…and it is a much better environment without them.”
Maintaining the number of staff, guidance counselors in particular, who actively communication with students, as well as obtaining a school resource officer, will go a long way in sustaining a safe school environment, he said.
Another of Russo's priorities is promoting SHS as a great choice for high school. In recent years, Stoneham has seen students choosing private schools in larger numbers than in the past, but Russo said that SHS has too much to offer to be overlooked in favor of private education.
Stoneham High School's first-ever television commercial, promoting the great things going on at SHS in academics, athletics and activities, is currently in the works and will air on Stoneham TV when completed. The timing is planned to catch current eight graders as they embark on their high school search process. The ad is also aimed at sparking interest in younger students to the idea that Stoneham High School is the place to be.
“I want them to make this their first choice,” said School Committee Chair Marie Christie.
Stoneham High is reaching out to the community in other ways as well. Russo's weekly emails and regular updating of the school's website keeps parents and students abreast of what is happening in school. Middle School visits from SHS coaching staff play a part in getting students excited about Stoneham High School, and comments from senior exit interviews are shared with incoming Freshmen to help them make the most of their SHS experience.
“I hope people see our school as a safe place and a place that sends kids on to competitive colleges,” Russo said. “The experience that kids have at Stoneham High School is very positive.”
“The more we can reinforce the positive things that we're doing here, the better,” School Committee member Joe Viselli agreed, calling the commercial idea “tremendous.”
Stoneham High teachers have been heavily involved in developing curriculum guides, as mandated by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges' report following a reaccredidation visit. Last year faculty participated in a professional development workshop on this topic and over the summer, 25 curriculum guides were completed. Russo is aiming for another 25 to be completed during the school year and is upbeat about not only satisfying the NEASC requirements, but the high school's future in general.
“It looks like Stoneham High School and the town itself, is headed in the right direction and that's something that's very positive.”
Middle School
Middle School Principal Chris Banos also listed school safety as a top priority for the Middle School. The Middle School had a very successful lockdown drill last year and he plans to have more this year with the inclusion of the Stoneham Police canine unit searches during lockdown drills.
While Banos is thankful for the twice weekly presence of the police department's D.A.R.E. program officer and the monthly visit by a community police officer, he would like to see more of that.
“For a middle school of our size, I think we could use full time presence in the building.”
Banos' other concern for the Middle School is the need to reinstate team concept teaching, which despite its popularity and success, was eliminated a few years back due to budget constraints. For the time being, the Middle School continues to concentrate on academics with the return of a health component in Physical Education, hiring of a part time technology aide, and inclusion of special education students into math classes staffed by both a math instructor teaching content and a special education teacher concentrating on strategy. A transitional level math class has also been added for grade 6, and MCAS practice tests will be administered to all students in December.
Regarding the old building's physical needs, Banos implied that they were too numerous to lay out in one meeting, but thanked the School Committee for recent initiatives including a locker replacement plan.
Viselli thanked Banos for a job well done during his first year as Middle School principal.
“You've done an absolutely phenomenal job.”
East School Property
In other news, the School Committee vehemently refuted a rumor that it was involved in negotiations regarding development of the East School property, a site which includes the former school building and adjacent fields.
According to Chairman Christie, she was flabbergasted to read recently that the Selectmen, a developer and private citizens were discussing development of the East School property.
“As far as I know, it's still under our (School Committee) control.”
Committee member Shelly MacNeil, who lives two doors down from the site said that any future development there would not only impact the neighborhood, but the town as well since open space and possible school redistricting issues are sure to surface. Therefore any discussion would require extensive and serious consideration.
“At some point, we will have to discuss that property and the North School property…but it should be a more inclusive process.”
Viselli said it was disturbing for the School Committee to be caught off guard about the school property.
“We have not been engaged in conversations with regard to the East School property…We're not opposed to having those discussions, but nothing to date has happened.”
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